The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated pressures faced by institutions of higher education on aspects ranging from shifting demographics and the “enrollment cliff,” and considerations of cost, student debt and institutional fiscal stability, to issues related to the value of a degree and the ability of higher education institutions to adequately prepare graduates for employment.
Most of these issues are not new and do need to be addressed effectively and rapidly if higher ed is to maintain its ability to serve as a beacon of opportunity and social mobility. While the past two decades have seen significant mission creep and it is clear that no institution can be “all things to all people,” there is a misconception that all decisions related to the future have to be on an “either/or” basis rather than in attempting to embrace options enhance flexibility.
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